Push release spring clip

Abstract

A spring clip for attaching articles to a support surface includes an elongated spring member having opposed end portions adapted to resiliently engage the support surface and to have its central body releasably attached to the support surface. An actuating lever has one end attached to the spring adjacent one end of the spring with the lever extending in spaced relation to the spring to a free end near the other end of the spring. Resilient spacer means between the spring and lever acts as a fulcrum whereby force applied to the free end of the lever in the direction of the support surface will raise the end of the spring from the surface to enable articles to be inserted thereunder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spring clip assembly for use in releasably attaching articles to a support surface, comprising an elongated spring member having top and bottom surfaces, a central body and opposed end portions,   an elongated actuating lever having one end attached to one of said end portions and extending therefrom along said top surface in outwardly spaced relation thereto and terminating in a free end,   mounting means for releasably attaching said spring member to a support surface, and   spacer means providing a fulcrum extending between said spring member top surface and said actuating lever,   said lever being operable by a force applied thereto adjacent said free end in the direction of said spring member to engage said spacer means and cooperate with said mounting means to act as a fulcrum of a first class lever to deflect said one end of said spring means away from the support surface against the resilient spring force of the spring member.   
     
     
       2. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising a mounting opening extending through said central body portion, said mounting means including means extending through said mounting opening and engaging said top surface for releasably attaching said clip assembly to a support surface. 
     
     
       3. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said central body is generally planar and wherein said opposed end portions are formed to position the respective free ends from said planar body portion in a direction opposite said top surface to engage a support surface and retain the central body portion in spaced relation to the support surface. 
     
     
       4. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting means comprises a resilient body including a suction cup adapted to be attached to a smooth support surface and wherein said means extending through said mounting opening and said spacer means are a common element formed as an integral part of said resilient body and projecting therefrom in position to be releasably received and retained in said mounting opening, said common element projecting outwardly from said top surface and engaging said lever. 
     
     
       5. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said integrally formed common element comprises a generally cylindrical body having an annular groove formed in its outer surface, and wherein said mounting opening comprises a generally keyhole-shaped opening including a first portion dimensioned to receive said body and a reduced portion dimensioned to fit with said annular groove to releasably retain said suction cup member and said spring member in assembled relation. 
     
     
       6. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said mounting means and said spacer means comprise a generally cylindrical body having an axial opening extending therethrough and an annular groove extending around its outer surface, said annular groove being adapted to be received and releasably retained within said mounting opening, and wherein said mounting means includes fastener means extending through said axial opening for releasably attaching said cylindrical body to a support surface. 
     
     
       7. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 6 wherein said cylindrical body is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
       8. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said fastener means includes a headed fastener adapted to penetrate the support surface to attach the cylindrical body to the support surface. 
     
     
       9. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said headed fastener includes hook means adapted to be received in and releasably retained by standard pegboard. 
     
     
       10. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said fastener means comprises a magnetic body and means extending through said axial opening for mounting said magnetic body on one end of said cylindrical body. 
     
     
       11. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said actuating lever comprises a generally flat body portion extending in spaced relation to said central body portion, and an opening formed in said lever in generally overlying relation to the mounting opening in said spring whereby a tool may be inserted through said lever to engage said fastener means. 
     
     
       12. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said mounting means comprises a generally cylindrical body of resilient material, said cylindrical body having an axial opening extending therethrough and an annular groove extending around its outer surface, said annular groove being adapted to be received and releasably retained within said mounting opening, and wherein said fastener means includes means extending through said axial opening for releasably attaching said resilient body to a support surface. 
     
     
       13. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said fastener means comprises a threaded screw fastener. 
     
     
       14. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said spring member and said lever are formed from a single sheet of spring steel. 
     
     
       15. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said spring member is formed from a sheet of spring steel and wherein said lever is formed from a steel sheet, said lever and spring member being rigidly joined adjacent one end of said spring member. 
     
     
       16. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 11 wherein said spring member is formed from a sheet of spring steel and wherein said lever is formed from a sheet material, said spring member and said lever including integrally formed connector means for releasably joining said lever and said spring member. 
     
     
       17. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 1 further comprising restraining means engaging said spacer means for retaining said spacer means in position to act as a fulcrum for said lever. 
     
     
       18. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 17 wherein said restraining means comprises a removable clip adapted to be mounted on said spring member. 
     
     
       19. The spring clip assembly as defined in claim 11 wherein said spring member is formed from a sheet of spring steel and wherein said lever and said spring member include cooperating connector means for releasably joining said lever and said spring member, said cooperating connecting means including means defining said spacer means. 
     
     
       20. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said fulcrum comprises an outwardly deformed portion of said central body which contacts said lever at a point spaced from said free end. 
     
     
       21. The spring clip assembly defined in claim 20 wherein said mounting means comprises a connecting member mounted on the bottom surface of said spring member at a location substantially opposite said fulcrum, said connecting member including attachment means for releasably attaching the clip assembly to a separate fastener on the support surface.